Bulbs Care

Bulbs Care Guide

Perennials and bulbs are the backbone of a beautiful garden, returning year after year with stunning colour and variety. With the right care, they will reward you season after season.

🌱 Depth: Plant 2–3× bulb height
☀️ Sun: Full sun or light shade
💧 Water: Moist, not waterlogged
🌿 Feed: Spring fertiliser
✂️ Aftercare: Let foliage die back
❄️ Winter: Lift tender bulbs
🪴 Pots: Ensure good drainage

🌱 Soil & Planting

  • Plant bulbs at a depth of 2–3 times their height
  • Use well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost
  • Plant spring-flowering bulbs (tulips, daffodils) in autumn; summer-flowering bulbs in spring
  • Space bulbs according to their size — generally 2–3 times their width apart

☀️ Position

  • Most bulbs and perennials prefer full sun or light shade
  • Avoid heavy shade or areas prone to waterlogging
  • Sheltered spots help protect early-flowering varieties from frost damage

💧 Watering

  • Keep soil consistently moist during the growing season
  • Avoid waterlogging — bulbs will rot in soggy soil
  • Reduce watering once foliage begins to die back

🌿 Feeding

  • Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring as growth begins
  • Feed perennials with a general-purpose feed every few weeks during the growing season
  • Avoid high-nitrogen feeds which encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers

✂️ Aftercare

  • Deadhead spent flowers to prolong blooming and prevent self-seeding
  • Allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering — this feeds the bulb for next year
  • Divide overcrowded clumps every 3–4 years to keep plants vigorous

❄️ Winter Care

  • Hardy bulbs (daffodils, tulips) can be left in the ground over winter
  • Lift tender bulbs (dahlias, gladioli) after the first frost and store in a cool, dry, frost-free place
  • Mulch perennials in autumn to protect roots from hard frosts

🪴 Growing in Pots

  • Use a good quality potting compost with added grit for drainage
  • Ensure pots have adequate drainage holes
  • Water more frequently than in-ground plants as pots dry out faster
  • Re-pot or refresh compost every 1–2 years

⚠️ Common Mistakes

  • Planting in the wrong position
  • Overcrowding
  • Poor soil preparation
  • Not cutting back
  • Overwatering in winter